Discover the Turo car rental marketplace
With plenty of coastal scenic spots, a vibrant foodie scene, and some of the best surf spots on Queensland's East Coast, Caloundra is the perfect getaway.
Whether you're a first-time visitor looking to explore the beaches in the area, or a local who needs a quick way to get around town, find your perfect Caloundra rental car on Turo.
Booking a car hire in Caloundra easy. You'll find long and short-term hire options, a wide variety of cars to choose from, and add-ons (like child seats) on Turo. What are you waiting for? You could be on your way to Kings Beach in your own SUV in just three simple steps:
Enter a date and location in Caloundra (or beyond) and browse thousands of cars shared by local hosts.
Book on the Turo app or online, choose a protection plan, and say hi to your host! Cancel for free up to 24 hours before your trip, and get discounts if you book early or for a longer duration!
Have the car delivered or pick it up from your host. Check in with the app, grab the keys, and hit the roads of Caloundra!
Garry F.
Garry F.’s vehicles
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Wei S.’s vehicles
Rent cars in Caloundra
As Queensland's Top Tourism Town in 2023, Caloundra offers visitors plenty of scenic beauty, culinary delights scattered throughout the area, and great surf town vibes. Here are the top three things to see and do while you're here.
Book the perfect carWith a saltwater pool nearby and gentle waves, Kings Beach is a great stop for families or those looking for a relaxed atmosphere. Moffat Beach has excellent surf breaks and scenic coastal views. After a day of fun in the sun, unwind at the nearby cafes overlooking the ocean.
Tackle parts of this 73 km scenic pathway that offers breathtaking ocean views, wildlife, and historic sites like the Military Jetty. If you're lucky, you can spot dolphins at Pumicestone Passage.
Enjoy local craft beers at Moffat Beach Brewing Co and Brouhaha Baringa, enjoy fresh produce and artisanal goods at the Caloundra Twilight Markets, and sipping your favourite coffee at The Pocket Espresso or Groundskeeper Willie.
Find deals on all kinds of drives in Caloundra and throughout Australia - from the everyday to the extraordinary - complete with a better, more convenient experience versus Caloundra car rental companies. Find the perfect vehicle for your budget.
Cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before your Caloundra trip starts. Because life happens and it helps to be flexible when it does.
Get your car delivered right to you or wherever you’re going. Many hosts offer delivery to custom locations or popular points of interest in Caloundra, like airports, train stations, and hotels.
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Hiring a car in Caloundra comes with its own rules and things to be aware of. Here are the top tips you should keep in mind for a smooth trip.
- Side of the road: You must drive on the left-hand side of the road in Caloundra, Sunshine Coast, and the rest of Australia.
- Speed limits: You must adhere to the speed limits indicated on road signs. If there are no signs, the default speed limit is set at 50 km/hr within built-up areas, and 100 km/hr outside these areas.
- BAC limits: The legal Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) limit in Queensland is 0.05% for full licence drivers.
- Animals on the Road: You might encounter animals (like kangaroos) while driving outside the city area. If you see one while driving, reduce your speed and come to a safe stop if necessary. Do not try to swerve around them, as this can cause an accident.
- Road Quality: Most major roads in Queensland are sealed and well-maintained. However, you might need to drive on some unsealed dirt or gravel roads in remote areas. This is especially common along roads leading to natural attractions.
- Climate & Flooding: The Sunshine Coast and other parts of Queensland has experienced flooding before. Remain informed about local news reports regarding floods before beginning your trips.
- Emergency road trip supplies: It's wise to pack non-perishable food items, water bottles, a torch and batteries, jumper cables, and first aid kit/medicines.
- Car Seat Regulations: Children under the age of 7 years must use an approved child restraint system when travelling by car in Queensland.
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To book a car on Turo in Caloundra, you must create a Turo account, be 21 years old or older, have a valid driver’s licence, and get approved to drive on Turo. When you’re booking your first trip, you’ll go through a quick approval process by entering your driver’s licence and some other information. In most cases, you’ll get approved immediately, and you’ll be set for every future road trip, business trip, and family holiday!
Whether you need a cheap car hire or luxury vehicle, find your perfect car type on Turo. Here's an overview of just some of the car rentals available:
- Electric cars: Hire electric cars like a Tesla to get around Caloundra with ease while reducing your carbon footprint.
- 7 seaters and people mover hire: Travelling around Caloundra in a big group? People movers like the Kia Carnival have ample space and plenty of comfort features.
- Compact cars: Zip around Caloundra in compact cars like the Toyota Corolla.
- Sports cars: Enjoy the superior handling and sleek look of a sports car hire like the Subaru BRZ or BMW M2.
- Vintage cars: Bring yourself back in time and elevate your look for an event with a vintage car hire.
- Exotic and luxury car hire: Hire an exotic car to add a level of glamour and excitement to a special event you're attending in Caloundra.
- Van rental: Carry large items (like surfboards) or many passengers with ease with a van hire.
- Ute rental: Utes like the Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger are great for road trips or if you simply need to transport things.
- Convertibles: Experience Caloundra's fresh air and stunning scenery from the car as you travel in a stylish convertible.
- SUVs: For the best balance of comfort, ease of driving, and sportiness, you can't go wrong with SUVs like the Toyota Highlander.
- 4WDs: Conquer any terrain in Queensland with 4WDs like the Ford Everest and Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Whether you're in the mood for beachside relaxation, island adventures, or inland escapes, there's a day trip for everyone. Here are three top recommendations for unforgettable day trips from Caloundra.
Noosa
Stop by Noosa National Park to enjoy Noosa Heads, Lake Weyba, and the varied wildlife living in the area like koalas and cockatoos. Afterwards, hop over to the iconic Noosa Main Beach or visit the nearby Noosa Everglades. Watching the sunset as you glide along the Noosa River on a cruise is one of the best ways to end the day.
Moreton Island
From snorkelling and diving around the Tangalooma Wrecks to sandboarding down the massive dunes, there's plenty to do around the third-largest sand island in the world. Don't miss the chance to hand-feed wild dolphins, explore the Blue Lagoon, and go sliding down the sandhills.
Toowoomba
Head inland to Toowoomba (Queensland's Garden City) and enjoy its beautifully maintained parks and gardens. Botanical enthusiasts will love the Carnival of Flowers, while the historic Cobb+Co Museum offers a fascinating glimpse into the region's history.
Unlike traditional car hire companies, Turo hosts set their own pick up locations.
This means you have the choice to get your vehicle from multiple places in Caloundra and beyond. You can even request for delivery to a custom pick up location like your hotel.
Here are some of the top car hire locations around downtown Caloundra:
- Caloundra city centre
- Moffat Beach
- Shelly Beach
- Kings Beach
Sunshine Coast Airport (MCY)
Skip the airport car rentals and complete your entire car rental process on the Turo app.
Once you've arrived at Sunshine Coast Airport, exit the airport building and it's just a short walk across Friendship Avenue before you reach the short-term parking. Simply pick up your car hire and start your journey.
The airport is a 45-minute drive from Caloundra.
Make different occasions extra special with the perfect car hire on Turo:
Holiday car hire: From SUVs to people movers, you can find a variety of cars on Turo to take you on your adventure safely and comfortably.
Long term car hire: Need a vehicle for a longer period of time? Turo hosts offer hire options for a few weeks or even months.
Formal car hire: Need to make an impression at a big formal event? Hire a luxury or sports car to match your look.
Wedding car hire: From vintage cars to luxury vehicles, you'll find a range of car types to make your special day even more memorable.
No, you don’t need personal insurance coverage to book a car on Turo.
When booking a car in Australia, you’ll also choose between the Premier (if available), Standard, and Minimum protection plans. Each plan includes varying limits on financial responsibility for damage to a host’s vehicle. All trips include up to $20,000,000 (per event) in legal liability protection. Legal liability protection protects against damage to other people’s property and death or bodily injury (where the legal liability is not covered or capable of being covered by any statutory or compulsory scheme) as a result of an accident involving the vehicle. All protection is provided by Turo Travels Mutual.*
On your Account page, make sure you’ve checked the box to receive email notifications, and enable push notifications from the Turo app in your phone settings — we’ll send you occasional promotions, discounts, and deals on car hire in Caloundra!
Additionally, frequent travellers on Turo can get rewarded with the loyalty bonus — earn a promo code for one bonus day when you take trips totalling 10 days in a 90-day period!**
Yes, many Turo hosts offer discounted prices when you book trips lasting 3+, 7+, or 30+ days, so you can get the best deals and lowest rates possible by booking longer trips.
See more about promotions & discountsSome hosts offer car hire with unlimited KMs; others set a daily distance limit. On the vehicle pages, you’ll see the total kilometres you’re allowed to drive under the heading “Distance included.” You can find cars offering unlimited mileage with every trip by using the “Unlimited distance” filter.
You can cancel and get a full refund up to 24 hours before your trip starts, unless you opt to receive a non-refundable trip discount when you book. If you book a trip with less than 24 hours’ notice, you have one hour after booking to cancel free of charge. If you cancel after the free cancellation period ends, you will be charged a cancellation fee.
In the rare event a host cancels, you’ll be notified immediately so you can book another car, or we’ll help you find one. Your refund can be temporarily held to expedite rebooking, or the funds can be returned to your bank account — your choice.
Under the enhanced cleaning policy, hosts are required to clean and disinfect their vehicles thoroughly before every trip, so you can feel safe and comfortable behind the wheel. Turo hosts have access to training materials on enhanced safety measures and cleaning practices to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 or other viruses.
No. Unlike rental car companies, Turo is a peer-to-peer car sharing marketplace where you can book directly from trusted local car owners in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. Turo does not own any vehicles — Turo hosts share their own personal cars and set their own prices, discounts, vehicle availability, and delivery options.
There is no fee or additional charge for adding a driver to your trip on Turo. Only the guest who booked the trip can request to add drivers; Turo hosts cannot do it for you. We encourage you to request to add any additional drivers before your trip starts, though guests in Australia can request to add a driver while a trip is in progress.
To speed up the process, have your additional driver create a Turo account and get approved to drive before you request to add them. All drivers must have a valid driver’s licence and meet the age requirements for the car you’ve booked. You can request to add drivers via the “Trips” tab in the Turo app without additional driver charges or extra costs.
Yes, long term car rental is available in Caloundra on Turo. You can find booking periods from a few weeks to even a couple of months.
The cost of hiring a car in Caloundra (or Sunshine Coast Airport) depends on several factors. This includes car type, booking length, extras, and any delivery options selected (for example, some hosts charge a fee if you want to pick up your car from a custom location like your home). Look out for lower car hire prices on longer-duration bookings and early bookings.
No, you can't hire a car on your Ps in Caloundra. To hire a car on Turo, you must have a valid full licence - no provisional or conditional licences are accepted.
The minimum age to rent a car in Caloundra on Turo is 21 years of age, with all drivers under 25 years old being subjected to an extra cost of $15/day (a.k.a the Young Driver Surcharge). Plus, if you're looking to hire certain vehicle classes, you must be 25 or older to book a Deluxe Class vehicle, and 30 or older to book a Super Deluxe Class vehicle.
If you're visiting from overseas, you can drive using your overseas licence in Caloundra (and the rest of Queensland) as long as it is current. However, if your driver's licence is not written in English, you will either need to produce an English translation of it or have an international driving permit.
* The guest protection plans offer discretionary protection (protection) issued by Turo Travels Mutual Limited (the Mutual). The plans are offered and distributed on behalf of the Mutual by Turo Australia Pty Ltd and Turo Inc., who are both authorised representatives of Picnic Licensing Pty Ltd (AFSL No 532540). Discretionary risk protection is not insurance. Relevantly, the Board of the Mutual has absolute discretion to accept or reject a member’s claim.
Review the Guest Product Disclosure Statement for more information.
The Board’s discretion will be exercised fairly and consistently, and with all due consideration to the merits and circumstances of each claim and the terms and conditions set out in the Guest PDS.